Automated production of wood-plastic composites Requirements •high plant uptime, designed for continuous operation •no restrictions when it comes to automating raw materials •high throughput rate •robust, high-quality construction •process and control engineering and after-sales service from a single supplier The customer Environmental responsibility and recycling technology were among the top priorities when developing the concept and deciding on investment for the manufacture of innovative and award-winning products in the UPM ProFi family of products. Having set themselves the goal of cost leadership, UPM then picked AZO as a partner, with whom continuous optimisation of processes is possible at any point. UPM is a global business with headquarters in Finland and is made up of six business units: Biorefining (biofuels & cellulose), Energy (hydropower plants), Raflatac (label materials), Specialty Papers & Communication Papers and Plywood. UPM Biocomposites’ business is the manufacture of wood-plastic…

Expert handling of demanding The requirements •Automation of difficult materials: Plant-based with fluctuating properties, Adherent, sticky, bridging Solid and liquid Sensitive for dust explosion •Tailor made production environment •Expandability for the future •Ideal material flow •Low production cost The customer BioLogiQ® Inc., a bioplastic resin manufacturing company specializing in sustainable plastic products made from renewable resources, was founded in 2011. The company’s intent was to create a useful plastic from the excess starch generated during potato processing. This led to the invention of a new kind of Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) called NuPlastiQ® BioPolymers. Using its proprietary process, BioLogiQ® makes a low moisture content plasticized starch resin. They make NuPlastiQ® in pellet form so plastic product manufacturers can use them like traditional plastic resin pellets on their standard production equipment. NuPlastiQ® pellets are designed to be blended with…

AZO at Powtech in Nuremberg hall 1, stand 356 Apart from customized solutions for automating raw materials and processes, AZO also offers the possibility to support the customer in planning production logistics by conducting concept studies. This service is performed by the engineering & services division (AZO®e&s) as part of the pre-engineering process, tailored to the customer's existing or planned new system. Parallel to the plant design, additional process equipment is harmonized and planned with potential vendors. Apart from systems and process engineering, the logistics, media supply and staff rooms also play an important part. They can, if necessary, also be taken into consideration early on during this phase in order to create an ideal basis for further procedures (architecture, planning of budgets etc). Regardless of whether it concerns an existing brownfield plant, where the aim is to refurbish existing buildings and/or equipment in accordance with the latest state-of-the-art technology (retrofit) and…

Screening under containment condition Containment has been a core issue for years, particularly in the pharmaceuticals industry. Low occupational exposure limits and complex toxicological evaluations pose special challenges for processors and manufacturers of highly active substances with regard to process safety. On top of this, there are new regulations, such as the modified EU GMP directives, which came into force on 1 March 2015. Thanks to engineering design solutions, today's plants now generate so little dust in regular operations that it is possible to rule out any threat to the health of plant operating staff from harmful dust. The situation is far more critical when maintenance or cleaning work has to be carried out. Inspection hatches have to be opened in order to inspect working parts in machinery and plants. In the case of maintenance activities, maintenance staff have to remove worn components and install new replacement parts. In the past, this was only possible within isolators when smaller…

cost-effective and versatile Flexible bulk materials receptacles such as big bags have become firmly established for handling powders in a variety of branches. They have clear advantages over sacks when it comes to transporting and storing bulk materials. They are environmentally friendly, require less operating staff and storage space and reduce costs for transport and processes. AZO big bag discharge stations make it possible to discharge big bags without generating excess dust and to feed products reliably into the closed production plant. To improve efficiency and reduce costs even further, AZO has developed a modular concept for a big bag discharge station. The required components such as frame, support beams, chain hoist, discharging aids, big bag docking system, buffer bin and discharging unit can be chosen from a “construction set”, depending on the requirements. The entire discharge station can be configured to suit needs without outlay for design, which has a very positive effect…

for the provision of micro quantities The operator-guided manual weighing centre ManDos is ideal for micro quantities that cannot be fully automated in a profitable manner owing to their consistency (physical properties) or production need (quantity and frequency). However, it is these micro quantities in particular that have a crucial impact on the recipe, meaning that proper control and documentation are essential during their addition to the manufacturing process. ManDos is ideal for the following situations: •Low batch frequency •Raw materials that are not suitable for automation •Frequent changes of ingredients •A large number of components •Limited investment resources •Requirement for end-to-end documentation Our expertise – benefiting you. ManDos can be used as a stand-alone system, but can also be expanded to a comprehensive, networked batch production system with host interface. The logical user guidance provides the best support for…

AZO at Powtech 2019 Kastor has been expanded with functions for automated handling of micro quantities using AZO®RoLog New solutions from the Kastor family of products have been developed for AZO®RoLog – new robot-assisted dosing of micro quantities. •Kastor RoWeighControl for controlling robot-assisted weighing •Kastor RoRefill for refilling the dosing receptacle •Kastor RoStore for storage and transport of dosing receptacles and target containers •Kastor RoDataManager for managing job, formulation and receptacle data and settings. These Kastor solutions can either be used as “standalone” models or they can be integrated into a comprehensive Kastor manufacturing execution system. Of course, a solution of this kind is also adapted to customer IT environments (ERP/MES) and provides end-to-end batch tracing. It goes without saying that compatibility with previously implemented solutions using Kastor and ManDos is ensured. AZO®RoLog and the associated Kastor…

AZO at Powtech 2019 Azo liquids’ customers in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals industries rely above all on the dependable and reproducible production processes of our plants. Maximum flexibility, efficient use of energy, fully automatic controls and consistent quality features are what set products from Azo liquids apart. Added to these advantages is our comprehensive industry expertise in all aspects of raw materials handling, from deliveries of raw materials to output and metering, mixing and controlling. AZO covers all areas of production and develops bespoke solutions for its customers. Above and beyond this, you can expect Azo liquids to provide professional plant engineering, taking full account of your particular requirements, and to collaborate closely with you in developing solutions for your process. Batch vacuum processing plants type zoatec® BG: mixing, dispersing and homogenising – Fresh power for your liquid processes The modular vacuum…

AZO at Powtech 2019 The hygienic design feeding hopper serves to feed bulk solids in powdered and granular form into closed materials handling systems, especially in areas calling for the highest standards in hygiene. Products can be fed from sacks, boxes, barrels or similar receptacles. The feeding hopper is available in two different grades of stainless steel and, depending on the surface finish, has surface roughness of < 0.6 µm or < 0.8 µm. The radii on the inside of the feeding hopper are greater than 50 mm and can be cleaned leaving no residue at all. Wet cleaning is done via an integral spray head. The gasket used for the lid can easily be replaced when needed, as it is not attached with adhesive. It is composed of silicone and is metal detectable. The feeding hopper is suitable for use in areas in zones 22 and 2 where there is a risk of explosion. To avoid dust escaping when sacks are discharged, an aspiration process can be connected that starts when the lid of…

AZO at Powtech 2019 Until now, minor and micro components had to be weighed manually, thus entailing risks and potential errors. These grow with the number of components and batches, and with the required weighing and metering accuracy. This has an adverse effect on product safety and quality overall. Manual operations may under certain circumstances require a large number of staff and demands a high degree of concentration from them during weighing processes. They are to some extent exposed to relatively high amounts of dust. Occasionally automatic dosing units are also employed, which meter the ingredients onto a weigh belt feeder. However these require substantial outlay for cleaning; neither can they prevent cross-contamination. In order to resolve the problems described above, AZO is expanding its already extensive portfolio for automation of minor and micro quantities with the Azo componenter® Step. This system makes it possible to weigh minor and micro components automatically…

AZO at Powtech 2019 For safe discharge of powdery, crystalline, fatty and granular bulk materials from hoppers. Hoppers are discharged completely without leaving residue. Funnel formation and bridging in the hopper are prevented. Can be used for virtually all bulk materials, even those that flow poorly, in the foods, plastics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals industries. Special advantages •Reliable discharge and even fall of the product column (mass flow) •Hygienic design: Smooth internal contours in the silo / hopper without any changes in diameter, smooth surfaces on the exterior, resulting in easy cleaning No inaccessible cavities and exposed screw threads •Elastomer sleeve is easy to assemble and has an accurate fit •The sleeve is silicone-free, conductive and is approved as food-grade, assembly using clamping segments and pressure pieces •Screw locking by means of wedge locking washers •Shock pressure proof to 2 bar (overpressure) and vacuum-proof •Long…

AZO at IBA 2018 The AZO lump breaker is used for crushing and milling of bulk materials with a tendency to form agglomerates, clods and lumps. The sturdy but compact design of the lump breaker, take care for a reliable and gentle crushing of clods and lumps. This unit is designed energy-saving and with low wear. It is available in various construction materials and surface finishings. Due to the pharmaceutical design, it can be dismantled without tools and complies with highest requirements to hygiene and cleaning. The AZO lump breaker consists of a sturdy housing with inlet and outlet flanges, crushing device and a laterally mounted gear motor. By means of an optional extraction device the shaft including screen and the gear motor can be extracted from the housing with low effort. The unit is available with the construction material no. 1.4301 or 1.4404 and various surface finishings including electrolytic polish.

AZO auf der IBA 2018 The hygienic design feeding hopper serves to feed bulk solids in powdered and granular form into closed materials handling systems, especially in areas calling for the highest standards in hygiene. Products can be fed from sacks, boxes, barrels or similar receptacles. The feeding hopper is available in two different grades of stainless steel and, depending on the surface finish, has surface roughness of < 0.6 µm or < 0.8 µm. The radii on the inside of the feeding hopper are greater than 50 mm and can be cleaned leaving no residue at all. Wet cleaning is done via an integral spray head. The gasket used for the lid can easily be replaced when needed, as it is not attached with adhesive. It is composed of silicone and is metal detectable. The feeding hopper is suitable for use in areas in zones 22 and 2 where there is a risk of explosion. To avoid dust escaping when sacks are discharged, an aspiration process can be connected that starts when the lid of the feeding…

Modular big bag discharge station – cost-effective and versatile Flexible bulk materials receptacles such as big bags have become firmly established for handling powders in a variety of branches. They have clear advantages over sacks when it comes to transporting and storing bulk materials. They are environmentally friendly, require less operating staff and storage space and reduce costs for transport and processes. AZO big bag discharge stations make it possible to discharge big bags without generating excess dust and to feed products reliably into the closed production plant. To improve efficiency and reduce costs even further, AZO has developed a modular concept for a big bag discharge station. The required components such as frame, support beams, chain hoist, discharging aids, big bag docking system, buffer bin and discharging unit can be chosen from a “construction set”, depending on the requirements. The entire discharge station can be configured to suit needs without outlay for design, which has a very positive effect…

ManDos – operator-guided manual weighing centre for the provision of micro quantities The operator-guided manual weighing centre ManDos is ideal for micro quantities such as flavourings, baking agents, emulsifiers, dyes and other ingredients that cannot be fully automated in a profitable manner owing to their consistency (physical properties) or production need (quantity and frequency). However, it is these micro quantities in particular that have a crucial impact on the recipe, meaning that proper control and documentation are essential during their addition to the manufacturing process. ManDos is ideal for the following situations: • Low batch frequency • Raw materials that are not suitable for automation • Frequent changes of ingredients • A large number of components • Limited investment resources • Requirement for end-to-end documentation Our expertise – benefiting you! ManDos can be used as a stand-alone system, but can also be expanded to a comprehensive, networked batch production system with host interface. The logical…

AZO at IBA 2018 AZO®WMD – the ideal temperature-control and dosing unit for process water. An attractive innovation from AZO for bakery businesses. Does your equipment supply hot and cold water, but you need a temperature somewhere in between? The AZO®WMD water mixing and dosing unit supplies process water at the perfect temperature for your dough production, in the required quantity, just when you need it. Process water is valuable. Because the intake temperature is immediately and automatically considered and compensated for when the WMD starts up, there is no advance flow at all. The setpoint values are achieved with excellent precision thanks to continuous monitoring of the process parameters – pressure and temperature – and of the flow quantities for hot and cold water at the inlet of the unit. The AZO control installed in the unit records all process data at the inlet and outlet of the AZO®WMD. Digital displays provide information about the current process status.…

AZO at IBA 2018 The new AZO DL (dough line) modular line from AZO takes a big step towards addressing the frequently expressed wish of customers for complete solutions for handling both solids and liquids in bakeries. With years of experience in adding, dosing and weighing powdered substances and bulk materials, together with expertise in handling liquids, AZO can offer customers a “carefree package” without troublesome interfaces. Thanks to the modular design, the dough mixers, which are designed for medium- and large-scale bakeries, are highly versatile and can be engineered for different types of dough as required. Owing to the robust execution, dough yields upwards of 180 (solid content up to 55%) can be processed in volumes of between 400 and 9000 l without difficulty. The addition of finely dispersed water and flour, in conjunction with the specially developed agitators, ensures these are worked gently into the dough and distributed uniformly over the course of the entire…

AZO at the IBA 2018 Until now, minor and micro components had to be weighed manually, thus entailing risks and potential errors. These grow with the number of components and batches, and with the required weighing and metering accuracy. This has an adverse effect on product safety and quality overall. Manual operations may under certain circumstances require a large number of staff and demands a high degree of concentration from them during weighing processes. They are to some extent exposed to relatively high amounts of dust. Occasionally automatic dosing units are also employed, which meter the ingredients onto a weigh belt feeder. However these require substantial outlay for cleaning; neither can they prevent cross-contamination. In order to resolve the problems described above, AZO is expanding its already extensive portfolio for automation of minor and micro quantities with the AZO COMPONENTER® Step. This system makes it possible to weigh minor and micro components automatically…

shows solutions around the production control system Kastor Kastor has been expanded with functions for automated handling of micro quantities using AZO®RoLog New solutions from the Kastor family of products have been developed for AZO®RoLog – new robot-assisted dosing of micro quantities. • Kastor RoWeighControl for controlling robot-assisted weighing • Kastor RoRefill for refilling the dosing receptacle • Kastor RoStore for storage and transport of dosing receptacles and target containers • Kastor RoDataManager for managing job, formulation and receptacle data and settings. These Kastor solutions can either be used as “standalone” models or they can be integrated into a comprehensive Kastor manufacturing execution system. Of course, a solution of this kind is also adapted to customer IT environments (ERP/MES) and provides end-to-end batch tracing. It goes without saying that compatibility with previously implemented solutions using Kastor and ManDos is ensured. AZO®RoLog and the associated Kastor…

The AZO Group, with the three specialist firms AZO SOLIDS, AZO CONTROLS and AZO LIQUIDS, designs and builds complete turnkey plants for fully automated processes with solid and liquid materials. Thanks to its wide-ranging experience of the food, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and plastics industries, the company has acquired very extensive knowledge in the field of raw materials handling. AZO LIQUIDS’ customers in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals industries rely above all on the dependable and reproducible production processes of our plants. Maximum flexibility, efficient use of energy, fully automatic controls and consistent quality features are what set products from AZO LIQUIDS apart. Added to these advantages is our comprehensive industry expertise in all aspects of raw materials handling, from deliveries of raw materials to output and metering, mixing and controlling. AZO covers all areas of production and develops bespoke solutions for its customers. Above…

For safe discharge of powdery, crystalline, fatty and granular bulk materials from hoppers. Hoppers are discharged completely without leaving residue. Funnel formation and bridging in the hopper are prevented. Can be used for virtually all bulk materials, even those that flow poorly, in the foods, plastics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals industries. Special advantages • Reliable discharge and even fall of the product column (mass flow) • Hygienic design: Smooth internal contours in the silo / hopper without any changes in diameter, smooth surfaces on the exterior, resulting in easy cleaning No inaccessible cavities and exposed screw threads • Elastomer sleeve is easy to assemble and has an accurate fit • The sleeve is silicone-free, conductive and is approved as food-grade, assembly using clamping segments and pressure pieces • Screw locking by means of wedge locking washers • Shock pressure proof to 2 bar (overpressure) and vacuum-proof • Long…

The hygienic design feeding hopper serves to feed bulk solids in powdered and granular form into closed materials handling systems, especially in areas calling for the highest standards in hygiene. Products can be fed from sacks, boxes, barrels or similar receptacles. The feeding hopper is available in two different grades of stainless steel and, depending on the surface finish, has surface roughness of < 0.6 µm or < 0.8 µm. The radii on the inside of the feeding hopper are greater than 50 mm and can be cleaned leaving no residue at all. Wet cleaning is done via an integral spray head. The gasket used for the lid can easily be replaced when needed, as it is not attached with adhesive. It is composed of silicone and is metal detectable. The feeding hopper is suitable for use in areas in zones 22 and 2 where there is a risk of explosion. To avoid dust escaping when sacks are discharged, an aspiration process can be connected that starts when the lid of the feeding…

for crushing of agglomerates in bulk materials The AZO lump breaker is used for crushing and milling of bulk materials with a tendency to form agglomerates, clods and lumps. The sturdy but compact design of the lump breaker, take care for a reliable and gentle crushing of clods and lumps. This unit is designed energy-saving and with low wear. It is available in various construction materials and surface finishings. Due to the pharmaceutical design, it can be dismantled without tools and complies with highest requirements to hygiene and cleaning. The AZO lump breaker consists of a sturdy housing with inlet and outlet flanges, crushing device and a laterally mounted gear motor. By means of an optional extraction device the shaft including screen and the gear motor can be extracted from the housing with low effort. The unit is available with the construction material no. 1.4301 or 1.4404 and various surface finishings including electrolytic polish.

base for ignition sensitive dusts The AZO DOSITAINER® is a container with integrated dosing screw. It is an ideal transport and storage bin for bulk solids at medium throughput. As a mobile storage container that can be automated, it is also used in automatic processing plants. The integrated dosing screw makes it possible to dose accurately into automatic weighing processes. The bulk solids are emptied from the AZO DOSITAINER® by means of a discharge base. This AZO DOSITAINER® and the discharge base are designed to be suitable for dusts with a minimum ignition energy of 1mJ ≤ MIE < 3mJ. Key advantages • The AZO DOSITAINER® and discharge base can be used for extremely ignition sensitive dusts with a minimum ignition energy of 1mJ ≤ MIE < 3mJ • Low-dust, reliable emptying of AZO DOSITAINERS® using patented docking collars, optionally with vibration discharge • The AZO DOSITAINER® can be changed over without intermediate cleaning • Integrated dosing screw with frequency-controlled…

cost-effective and versatile Flexible bulk materials receptacles such as big bags have become firmly established for handling powders in a variety of branches. They have clear advantages over sacks when it comes to transporting and storing bulk materials. They are environmentally friendly, require less operating staff and storage space and reduce costs for transport and processes. AZO big bag discharge stations make it possible to discharge big bags without generating excess dust and to feed products reliably into the closed production plant. To improve efficiency and reduce costs even further, AZO has developed a modular concept for a big bag discharge station. The required components such as frame, support beams, chain hoist, discharging aids, big bag docking system, buffer bin and discharging unit can be chosen from a “construction set”, depending on the requirements. The entire discharge station can be configured to suit needs without outlay for design, which has a very positive effect…

for screening APIs under containment condition Containment has been a core issue for years, particularly in the pharmaceuticals industry. Low occupational exposure limits and complex toxicological evaluations pose special challenges for processors and manufacturers of highly active substances with regard to process safety. On top of this, there are new regulations, such as the modified EU GMP directives, which came into force on 1 March 2015. Thanks to engineering design solutions, today’s plants now generate so little dust in regular operations that it is possible to rule out any threat to the health of plant operating staff from harmful dust. The situation is far more critical when maintenance or cleaning work has to be carried out. Inspection hatches have to be opened in order to inspect working parts in machinery and plants. In the case of maintenance activities, maintenance staff have to remove worn components and install new replacement parts. In the past, this was only possible within isolators when…

The revolution in automated dosing of micro quantities AZO, the specialist in the automation of raw materials logistics for bulk solids and liquids, will be presenting AZO®RoLog. The new system automates the dosing process for micro quantities using a combination of the very latest AZO technology and established robotics. Until now, dosing of micro quantities up to 10 kg has mainly been carried out manually by an operator. Each component in a formulation has to be weighed by hand and fed into the current production process. This can cause problems for the operator and for product safety, especially when it involves metering of extremely critical or harmful materials in pharmaceuticals, chemicals and food production. Materials of this kind can only be handled using special protective measures. There is also the risk that it will be impossible to reproduce complex formulations continuously and accurately. It is for these reasons that AZO has developed the solution: AZO®RoLog. With this system, the raw materials are placed…

AZO, the expert for automatic handling of raw materials in bulk, powdered, granular and liquid form, is exhibiting at Anuga FoodTec 2018 in Cologne. In Hall 10.1 at stand B028 C029 we will be demonstrating solutions for automatic handling of large and medium components and the integration of small components and ingredients in the automated process. Intelligent process-IT and a vacuum-process plant for the manufacturing of sauces, mayonnaise and ketchup complete the portfolio of the AZO Group. AZO cyclone screeners combine operationally safe technology with high performance and easy maintenance and cleaning. The screeners can easily be integrated into existing systems thanks to their compact design. Safe products thanks to AZO cyclone screening technology • complies with IFS and HACCP • automatic elimination of foreign matter • clean and safe finished product End-to-end HACCP concepts in the food and dairy industries specify control screening and…

mixing, dispersing and homogenising In Hall 10.1 at stand B028 C029 we will be demonstrating solutions for automatic handling of large and medium components and the integration of small components and ingredients in the automated process. Intelligent process-IT and a vacuum-process plant for the manufacturing of sauces, mayonnaise and ketchup complete the portfolio of the AZO Group. Fresh power for your liquid processes The modular vacuum processing plants type zoatec® BG structured in assembly groups can be used everywhere that dry powders and liquids, or liquids and liquids, have to be mixed, dispersed and emulsified. As a result, they cover a wide product spectrum for liquid to semi-solid applications in the food industries. Also, they are characterized in particular by short batch times. AZO LIQUIDS processing plants stand out from all conventional plants with their ingenious design. Complete processing plants are assembled from standardized modules. The modules are independent from the process…

AZO, the expert for automatic handling of raw materials in bulk, powdered, granular and liquid form, is exhibiting at Anuga FoodTec 2018 in Cologne. In Hall 10.1 at stand B028 C029 we will be demonstrating solutions for automatic handling of large and medium components and the integration of small components and ingredients in the automated process. Intelligent process-IT and a vacuum-process plant for the manufacturing of sauces, mayonnaise and ketchup complete the portfolio of the AZO Group. The hygienic design hopper serves to feed bulk solids in powdered and granular form into closed materials handling systems, especially in areas calling for the highest standards in hygiene. Products can be fed from sacks, boxes, barrels or similar receptacles. The feeding hopper is available in two different grades of stainless steel and, depending on the surface finish, has surface roughness of < 0.6 µm or < 0.8 µm. The radii on the inside of the feeding hopper are…

Resource-saving production | Decentralised intelligence AZO, the expert for automatic handling of raw materials in bulk, powdered, granular and liquid form, is exhibiting at Anuga FoodTec 2018 in Cologne. In Hall 10.1 at stand B028 C029 we will be demonstrating solutions for automatic handling of large and medium components and the integration of small components and ingredients in the automated process. Intelligent process-IT and a vacuum-process plant for the manufacturing of sauces, mayonnaise and ketchup complete the portfolio of the AZO Group. Liquids meets Controls Contemporary production plants for the manufacture of sauces, ketchup, mayonnaise, soups or spreads, for example, have vacuum processing plants that are generally supplied with the necessary raw materials by means of automated dosing of base liquids and manual feeding of powdered substances and small quantities of liquid additives. Combining the ManDos manual weighing system with a zoatec® BG vacuum processing plant creates a perfect symbiosis.…

AZO, the expert for automatic handling of raw materials in bulk, powdered, granular and liquid form, is exhibiting at Anuga FoodTec 2018 in Cologne. In Hall 10.1 at stand B028 C029 we will be demonstrating solutions for automatic handling of large and medium components and the integration of small components and ingredients in the automated process. Intelligent process-IT and a vacuum-process plant for the manufacturing of sauces, mayonnaise and ketchup complete the portfolio of the AZO Group. The unit is used for crushing and milling of bulk materials with a tendency to form agglomerates, clods and lumps. The sturdy but compact design of the lump breaker, take care for a reliable and gentle crushing of clods and lumps. This unit is designed energy-saving and with low wear. It is available in various construction materials and surface finishings. Due to the pharmaceutical design it can be dismantled without tools and complies with highest requirements to hygiene…

AZO, the expert for automatic handling of raw materials in bulk, powdered, granular and liquid form, is exhibiting at Anuga FoodTec 2018 in Cologne. In Hall 10.1 at stand B028 C029 we will be demonstrating solutions for automatic handling of large and medium components and the integration of small components and ingredients in the automated process. Intelligent process-IT and a vacuum-process plant for the manufacturing of sauces, mayonnaise and ketchup complete the portfolio of the AZO Group. Automatic, highly accurate dosing, weighing, collecting and preparing of batches for mixer feeding During the manufacture of food, pharmaceuticals, chemical and plastic products, precise adherence to the recipes is decisive for the product quality. As the producer, you must have absolute confidence in the exact supply of your raw materials. Each ingredient must be meticulously documented. Reasons for the automation are: • High precision for small and large weight…

AZO, the expert for automatic handling of raw materials in bulk, powdered, granular and liquid form, is exhibiting at Anuga FoodTec 2018 in Cologne. In Hall 10.1 at stand B028 C029 we will be demonstrating solutions for automatic handling of large and medium components and the integration of small components and ingredients in the automated process. Intelligent process-IT and a vacuum-process plant for the manufacturing of sauces, mayonnaise and ketchup complete the portfolio of the AZO Group. AZO CleanDock® is a system for docking containers at upstream dosing units. Apart from dust-free transfer between dosing units and mobile containers and decoupling from scales, it provides further functions. This contrasts with the situation when mobile containers are used. The use of this type of system means that there are transfer points between dosing units and the relevant bulk materials container. These transfer points have to satisfy several requirements simultaneously:…

AZO, the expert for automatic handling of raw materials in bulk, powdered, granular and liquid form, is exhibiting at Anuga FoodTec 2018 in Cologne. In Hall 10.1 at stand B028 C029 we will be demonstrating solutions for automatic handling of large and medium components and the integration of small components and ingredients in the automated process. Intelligent process-IT and a vacuum-process plant for the manufacturing of sauces, mayonnaise and ketchup complete the portfolio of the AZO Group. AZO has been supplying automatic systems for mixer feeding for decades. There is al-ready a plethora of solutions for this. The goal of developments in the field of filling and packaging was to offer a flexible system for producers of specialty products in small to medium batch sizes. Especially at a time when batches of products are becoming ever smaller, fast and straightforward retooling from one receptacle to another is called for in plants. The modular station exhibited…

Robert Zimmermann will be retiring at the end of 2017 – AZO will continue as a family-run After 27 extremely prosperous years, Robert Zimmermann will be retiring as one of the managing partners of the AZO Group in Osterburken at the end of 2017. The current management by Robert and Rainer Zimmermann will be transferred to Rainer Zimmermann as the sole managing partner. The AZO Group will thus stay a family business under the ownership of the Zimmermann families. Robert Zimmermann was born in 1951 as the oldest son of company’s founders Adolf and Marianne Zimmermann. In 1990, he and his younger brother Rainer Zimmermann, as joint managing partners, took over management of the company, which was founded by their parents in 1949. At the time of the takeover by the two brothers, there was, in addition to the Osterburken site, a service and sales subsidiary in the USA, which had been founded by their parents in 1978. The company’s turnover then amounted to 110 million Deutschmark. AZO had 650 employees throughout the world. Today the AZO Group’s turnover…

the assisted production system AZO CONTROLS will be showing the latest version of its Kastor process control and instrumentation system at Powtech as a taste of what is to come in future. In preparation for the future and challenges involving subjects like the Industrial Internet of Things, the focus is on topics like web enablement, responsive design and service-based product controls. The goal in all of this is to provide optimum visualisation and controls for your AZO plant, and to present data to you in a way that makes optimisation and choices possible too. The following new functions will be shown: • New Generation Kastor – plant controls and visualisation plant controlling, visualising and logging • Kastor DataCockpit – new functions for analysing data providing even greater transparency for plants and demonstrate the potential for improvements • Kastor AnalyticTrending – functions for curve comparison and analysis verifying and comparing process sequences Naturally,…

Scherarme Pulverbenetzung In kontinuierlichen Prozessen und bei Semi-Batchverfahren werden Feststoffe beim aktu-ellen Stand der Technik mit schnelldrehenden Werkzeugen (Homogenisatoren, Pumpen, etc.) eingebracht. Dies führt in vielen Fällen zu Qualitätseinbußen bei den so hergestell-ten Suspensionen oder Lösungen. Die neuartige Pulverbenetzung von AZO LIQUIDS kann Feststoffe sehr schonend dispergie-ren, so dass die Struktur von Feststoffpartikeln erhalten bleibt. Dies führt zu qualitativ hoch-wertigen Suspensionen, die in den nachfolgenden Prozessschritten sicher verarbeitet werden können. Mit dem vorgestellten Verfahren werden lösliche und nicht lösliche Trockenstoffe bei vari-abler Scherrate perfekt verarbeitet. In die Trägerflüssigkeit können problemlos mehrere Feststoffe dispergiert und mehrere Flüssigkeiten zu dosiert werden – alles in allem ein hochflexibles System für ein breites Spektrum von Fest- / Flüssig-Anwendungen. Logistiksysteme zum präzisen Dosieren von…

and discharge base for highly flammable dusts The AZO DOSITAINER® is a container with integrated dosing screw. It is an ideal transport and storage bin for bulk solids at medium throughput. As a mobile storage container that can be automated, it is also used in automatic processing plants. The integrated dosing screw makes it possible to dose accurately into automatic weighing processes. The bulk solids are emptied from the AZO DOSITAINER® by means of a discharge base. This AZO DOSITAINER® and the discharge base are designed to be suitable for highly flammable dusts with a minimum ignition energy of 1mJ ≤ MIE < 3mJ. Key advantages • The AZO DOSITAINER® and discharge base can be used for highly flammable dusts with a minimum ignition energy of 1mJ ≤ MIE < 3mJ • Low-dust, reliable emptying of AZO DOSITAINERS® using patented docking collars, optionally with vibration discharge • The AZO DOSITAINER® can be changed over without intermediate cleaning • Integrated dosing screw with frequency-controlled…

Clean docked AZO CleanDock® is a system for docking containers at upstream dosing units. Apart from dust-free transfer between dosing units and mobile containers and decoupling from scales, it provides further functions. This contrasts with the situation when mobile containers are used. The use of this type of system means that there are transfer points between dosing units and the relevant bulk materials container. These transfer points have to satisfy several requirements simultaneously: First, the target receptacle needs to have a cover lid that prevents foreign matter from getting into the inside of the container during storage time. Residual quantities, which typically stick to the outlet of the dosing unit after dosing operations, should be prevented from falling into the plant. Use of special docking systems rules out potential contamination of the plant. A sealed connection between the dosing units and the target receptacle while it is docked is critical to avoid dust…

AZO provides complete turnkey plants for automated processes The AZO Group, together with the three specialists AZO SOLIDS, AZO CONTROLS and AZO LIQUIDS, provides complete turnkey plants for automated processes with solid and liquid substances. In hall 1, booth 356, the AZO Group will be demonstrating solutions for automatic handling of large and medium components and the integration of small components and ingredients in the automated process. ”Solids meets Liquids” - This slogan makes it clear: AZO can also be liquid! AZO LIQUIDS also offers systems for the handling of liquid and pasty substances in addition to vacuum process plants and solutions for continuous processes. At our trade fair stand you can find out more about the following key themes: NEW: AZO CleanDock® AZO CleanDock® is a system for docking containers at upstream dosing units. Apart from dust-free transfer between dosing units and mobile containers and decoupling from scales, it provides further functions NEW: Modular big bag discharge…

AZO has been supplying automatic systems for mixer feeding for decades. There is already a plethora of solutions for this. The goal of developments in the field of filling and packaging was to offer a flexible system for producers of speciality products in small to medium batch sizes. Especially at a time when batches of products are becoming ever smaller, fast and straightforward retooling from one receptacle to another is called for in plants. The modular station exhibited at Powtech by AZO allows gravimetric filling of products in small to medium-size batches. The focus here is on easy cleaning, a high level of versatility and fast retooling to accommodate different small containers like tubs, drums, boxes with inliners, bags and sacks. The base station can be supplemented with a DA-type cyclone screener, which may be used simultaneously for dosing, and/or with metal detectors for final inspection of the product. Various modules for sealing sacks, for example bonding…

Automatic, highly accurate dosing, weighing, collecting and preparing of batches for mixer During the manufacture of food, pharmaceuticals, chemical and plastic products, precise adherence to the recipes is decisive for the product quality. As the producer, you must have absolute confidence in the exact supply of your raw materials. Each ingredient must be meticulously documented. Reasons for the automation are: • High precision for small and large weight units • Product and operator protection through contamination-free solutions • Reliable batch traceability and permanent documentation • User-friendly control and visualisation • Great flexibility, meaning weighing various weights from 10 grams up to several hundred kilograms, variable design possible, simple to expand, easy to change recipes • Minimised non-productive times, e.g. through process-optimised collection of components results in high speed • Sustainable, economic solutions with high energy efficiency • Safety thanks to experience and fully developed technology •…

Cost-effective and versatile Flexible bulk materials receptacles such as big bags have become firmly established for handling powders in a variety of branches. They have clear advantages over sacks when it comes to transporting and storing bulk materials. They are environmentally friendly, require less operating staff and storage space and reduce costs for transport and processes. AZO big bag discharge stations make it possible to discharge big bags without generating excess dust and to feed products reliably into the closed production plant. To improve efficiency and reduce costs even further, AZO has developed a modular concept for a big bag discharge station. The required components such as frame, support beams, chain hoist, discharging aids, big bag docking system, buffer bin and discharging unit can be chosen from a “construction set”, depending on the requirements. The entire discharge station can be configured to suit needs without outlay for design, which has a very positive effect…

Dry cleaning – environmentally friendly and effective The ingenious design makes it possible to automatically clean containers that have been contaminated inside with product residue and dust. Thanks to the umbrella-like mechanism, it is also possible to clean containers with small inlet apertures, as the cleaning unit only unfolds once it is inside the container. The design can thus be adapted to virtually any geometric shape of rotationally symmetrical hoppers. Water is frequently used for cleaning containers. This necessitates expensive washing chambers and drier units, which need to be installed in separate parts of the building. Therefore, wet cleaning results in the containers being out of production for a longer time in order to carry out the cleaning and subsequent drying processes. In most cases, however, dry cleaning the containers is totally sufficient to remove any product residue reliably. This type of cleaning provides quite a few advantages if contrasted with wet cleaning. Since no water is used, the station…

AZO cyclone screeners combine operationally safe technology with high performance and easy maintenance and cleaning. The screeners can easily be integrated into existing systems thanks to their compact design. Recovery of coating powders – cutting costs with maximum use of products Like many other branches, the coating powder industry is also under growing financial pressure and yet at the same time it has to meet the most stringent quality standards. Efficient recovery of powder crucially improves process stability and operating efficiency. In order to avoid a drop in quality, it is necessary to use systems that eliminate foreign matter and agglomerates reliably. In combined operation with tried-and-tested vacuum conveying systems, AZO’s cyclone screeners have demonstrated outstanding results in recovering coating powder. These systems are also eminently suited for recycling powder overspray. AZO cyclone screening with ultrasonic assistance Sonic…

ManDos is known as a tried and tested system solution for exact weighing of colours, additives and other micro quantities. An operator-guided manual weighing process that can be adapted to specific requirements – accurate to the gram and true to the recipe. Flexible in application, it guarantees high product safety and reliability by ensuring reproducibility with the option of end-to-end documentation for every batch. Frequently it is not worth automating all the components which are needed in the paints and coatings industry. This is especially true in the case of small batches or low throughput, frequent changeover of products, or poor suitability of raw materials for automation. This is where the ManDos manual weighing system offers all the functionalities required for operator-guided manual weighing. The key functions are operator guidance during weighing, checking of the raw materials used with the aid of barcodes and saving of weighing results, in addition…

all-purpose connection system for more flexibility AZO’s time-tested big bag connection system has acquired some additional, very practical new features specifically for this application. Independent connection systems have been developed to meet the special requirements in the sector of big bag handling. The big bag discharge system with vacuum docking ensures a dust-tight connection for big bags and reliable discharge of free-flowing bulk solids. It is therefore especially suitable for big bags that have no discharge spout or only a very short one. It is possible to discharge the entire contents of one big bag into the next hopper within a short time. The advantages of the system: • no dependence on suppliers of raw materials • for universal use • simple construction makes it easy to clean • saves height and space • high-grade chromium-nickel steel design The big bag being discharged is lifted with hoisting gear and lowered onto the big bag discharge station until it comes into contact…

of powdered products AZODOS® product family AZODOS® type P … DV dosing unit is used for volumetric metering of powdered products in weighing and finishing processes. The machine can be used in the food, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and plastics industries for feeding production processes with a constant mass flow in coarse or fine flow. By adding a weighing device, the machine can be extended to form the AZODOS® type P... DW dosing system for gravimetric feeding of processes. The machine can be used as loss-in-weight scales to dose small quantities into the downstream system with gram accuracy. The AZODOS® P… DW is used with the AZO®CONT dosing controls for feeding continuous gravimetric processes, resulting in a DDW loss-in-weight feeder. Key advantages • stainless chrome nickel steel design with various surface finishes • high grade dosing screws • easy-to-clean system for rapid changeover of components • compact design • easy to extend thanks to modular design • maximum dosing accuracy…

Everything in one place – the new information platform from AZO gives you important information about your machines and systems. Use an RFID or a QR Code reader to identify the component you need, and you will get all the relevant data in a single app: operating and maintenance instructions, installation videos, certifications and other important documents, online shop for spare parts, electrical wiring diagrams and more. It is sadly still often the case in many manufacturing companies that operating instructions and plant documentation live out a lonely existence in a cupboard somewhere. Other documents, such as the spare parts catalogue, might be in the procurement department – locked up and out of sight. And installation videos? No chance! As a result, the need for maintenance personnel to access these important documents at any time is often unintentionally denied. AZO is coming to the rescue with its new information platform, AZO®Plus. Each component…

AZO feeding hopper type ET... AZO feeding hopper type ET...VS GA with integrated vibrating perforated sheet and evacuation of coarse materials The hopper serves to feed bulk solids in powdered and granular form into closed materials handling systems, such as pneumatic conveying systems. Products can be fed from sacks, boxes, barrels or similar receptacles. As different branches will have very diverse requirements regarding quality and hygiene, the feeding hoppers are available in a variety of materials and surface finishes. After opening the lid to the feeding hopper, the aspiration process of the interior starts, thus preventing dust from escaping while the product is poured in. Depending on the requirements, dust filtration can be implemented either via an attached individual filter with built-in filter cleaning or via a central filter station. To assist discharge of bulk materials with poor flow properties, the feeding hoppers have been fitted with rappers, vibrators, bin activators or…

The Azo group introduces Zoatec GmbH, with approximately 40 employees and located on a brand new production site and with a separate technology centre in Neuenburg am Rhein (D), near Basel. Zoatec has been founded around a group of specialised and skilled engineers from the pasta and cream branche and fabricates process machines for the production of viscous products such as ketchup and mayonaise for the food industry, unguents for the pharmaceutical industry, creames for the cosmetic industry and toothpaste for the chemical industry. The synergy between Azo and Zoatec lies in the fact that during all these processes powders are mixed into the liquid process. From the Azo Nv site in Antwerp the distribution of Zoatec equipment is assured. Moreover, Azo represents the Amixon mixers exlusively, and during the fair, a sanitary mixer, proper for quick recipe exhange, will be exposed. Furthermore we would like to inform you about following innovations : -…